The Ludwick Community Center is a facility managed by the City of San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Department, located at 864 Santa Rosa Street.
History of the building
The building was originally constructed as one of San Luis Obispo's United Service Organizations (USO) buildings. The site at the corner of Santa Rosa and Mill Streets for the building was identified as early as June 1941.1 The site was loaned by the City of San Luis Obispo, approved by the San Luis Obispo Board of Education, approved July 1, 1941.2 The property was formerly the Court School. Construction began in November 1941, of a building with mostly an "open-type truss roof" including an auditorium with stage, large lounge room, and several small clubrooms, offices, kitchen, second floor, and other spaces.3 The building was constructed by F. C. Stolte, contractor, and designed by the U.S. Army Engineers, at a projected cost of $71,000.4 The building was dedicated December 21, 1941.5
Santa Rosa Street Recreation Center
In October 1946 the USO Building was acquired by the city and turned over to the Recreation Commission in December 1946.6
Remodel and Ludwick Community Center Naming
In 2001, to respond to a need for more senior facilities and programming to complement the Mitchell Park Senior Center, the city identified the Recreation Center as an additional site for senior spaces. The city received $600,000 in funds from Art Ludwick and family, to fund a remodel project. Ludwick, who lived in Glendora, donated the funds to honor his parents, Edward and Inga Ludwick. The funds supported the addition of air condition and the building of a new kitchen, pool room, multipurpose room, and senior service office.7
References
1. "Schools Provide Site for USO Building Here," San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California), June 4, 1941: 1. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.lib.calpoly.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1463448D97D52251%40EANX-NB-150232AF06C7FB32%402430150-1502308A678E3AF6%400-1502308A678E3AF6%40.
2. "School Site Loaned for USO Unit," San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California), July 2, 1941: 1. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.lib.calpoly.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1463448D97D52251%40EANX-NB-1506CF9EAA899AD2%402430178-15062976010CCCF3%400-15062976010CCCF3%40.
3. "USO Building Speeded for Early Use," San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California), November 5, 1941: 11. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.lib.calpoly.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1463448D97D52251%40EANX-NB-1506DECFB5CA5611%402430304-1506299DA693CF7E%4010-1506299DA693CF7E%40.
4. "City Building Soars Over $1,000,000," San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California), November 5, 1941: 5. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.lib.calpoly.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1463448D97D52251%40EANX-NB-1506DECFB5CA5611%402430304-1506299D6921E3B7%404-1506299D6921E3B7%40.
5. "County USO Buildings to be Dedicated Sunday," San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California), December 20, 1941: 1. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.lib.calpoly.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1463448D97D52251%40EANX-NB-1506DF0C413AC137%402430349-150629AD2BE80646%400-150629AD2BE80646%40.
6. "San Luis Obispo Supports Strong Program of Recreation." San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California), May 2, 1952: 20. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.lib.calpoly.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1463448D97D52251%40EANX-NB-151B4079CB7A2051%402434135-151A981AC1CE4609%4019-151A981AC1CE4609%40.
7. Hampian, Ken and Paul LeSage. "City Moves Forward to Meet Senior Recreation Needs." San Luis Obispo Telegram-Tribune (San Luis Obispo, California), July 26, 2001: 12. NewsBank: America's News – Historical and Current. https://infoweb-newsbank-com.ezproxy.lib.calpoly.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1463448D97D52251%40EANX-NB-16AF560B1E1DD6DD%402452117-16AEC3838E47EA35%4011-16AEC3838E47EA35%40.
